Another year has passed and London continues to remember the injustice of the US government in endorsing guilt by nationality with respect to Yemeni prisoners held. I spoke at a protest organised by the London Guantanamo campaign.

Yemenis in Guantanamo represented and still do represent the largest group of detainees, out of 158 detainees still left that consists of about 91. It wasn’t enough these men suffered physical and mental abuse even before getting to Guantanamo but they all then went on to suffer years of torture and abuse,never were they charged or convicted or had any connections to any terror crimes. The US government is effectively endorsing guilt by nationality. All of the detainees have been subjected at some point or another to solitary confinement some having to endure lengthier times than others. The failure of the US in recognizing INTL law and the bigger failure of the INTL community to act in getting the US to comply by these laws after over a decade is a frightening prospect in this so called war on terror and nothing short of a disgrace.

As most of you will be aware the unlawfully held detainees a few months ago went on mass hunger strikes and although it wasn’t the first of hunger strikes in Guantanamo, to me it spoke volumes. These men would rather take away one of the only necessities provided or die trying in order to get the world to listen and most importantly in a glimmer of hope so that they may gain freedom. What we must always remember is the rendition of these men to Guantanamo was on most accounts based on mere suspicions and heresy– Where else in the world would it be accepted for someone to be deemed guilty until proven innocent due to their nationality? After years of torture and false imprisonment the detainees still fought to prove their innocence and even when they did so and were cleared for immediate release by US courts and the Task Force – They still had to endure living in limbo, simply because the US government which unlawfully imprisoned them based on suspicions were arguing that now they suspected these individuals were too damaged physically and more so mentally, due to the constant abuse and torture endured that there wasn’t a safe enough rehabilitation centre or environment to reintegrate them into society.

I’ll just read out a short piece from a recent letter from Emad Abdallah Hassan a Yemeni national and a hunger striker for several years now – a prisoner cleared for release several years ago, yet still unlawfully detained. He states “The latest experiment is different. Now they begin with 1500cc of formula called TwoCal – four cans in the morning and four in the night, served up each time with 700cc of water. Once I finish each ‘meal,’ they fill the feed bag with 50cc of an anti-constipation medication and 450cc of water. As this scientific study shows – at least in the experience of this guinea pig, your correspondent – this method accelerates the stomach function and makes the hunger striker defecate on himself in the chair.” I won’t go into further detail as it’s indescribably inhumane what they continue to do to him. But I’d like to also add that he states “If I vomit on myself at any time during the procedure, they start the atrocity all over again, though they don’t necessarily let me wash off before it begins.” I find it despicable that this sort of barbaric way of torture in someone who has been cleared for release is still able to go on.

I believe the Yemeni government to be just as complicit in the crimes committed and which continue to be committed in Guantanamo as intervention on behalf of their citizens – many who have been cleared for release should’ve come years ago. Although there have been reports that US government and the Yemeni government are negotiating and the Yemeni President Hadi has quite rightfully said “We believe that keeping someone in detention for over ten years without due process is clear-cut tyranny,” I still find it preposterous that the US can actually have conditions of release for what is detainees lawful human right.

One of the most highlighted cases was the unfortunate suspicious death of Adnan Latif a mentally disturbed detainee as most doctors and reports describe him, whose death has aroused dozens of unanswered questions, like most detainees he was never charged with a crime and was cleared for release twice. Yet even after numerous reports deemed his rendition to only be worsening his mental stability he was still not released. It seems the US government has normalized injustice in the name of the war on terror while the whole world watches and continues to be silent. As I watched a report of Adnan Latif’s body arriving back home to Yemen to at last be put to rest, I couldn’t help but think the stories of the men of Guantanamo will go far beyond the walls of Guantanamo. That day I saw a son break down after seeing his father for the first time, a father bid farewell to hope of a semi-normal life and yet another family brewing with grief and I no doubt resentment towards the US so called justice.

I would like to conclude with last few lines of Adnan Latif’s poem:

Where is the world to save us from torture? Where is the world to save us from the fire and sadness? Where is the world to save the hunger strikers? But we are content, on the side of justice and right, Worshiping the Almighty. And our motto on this island is, salaam.

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It never seized to amaze me how regardless of starvation, lack of employment and all the other woes of Yemen – they could still throw a good wedding. The rainbow of colours under the abayas and burqa’s always awed me. I Never refused an opportunity to attend traditional weddings and I always went if I was invited. [If I’m honest it was partly also due to my grandmas never-ending lecture of how rude it would be to refuse]. That day I got ready as usual with my cousins oblivious to what the day would bring, we indulged in just enjoying the atmosphere. Before you knew it, Mohamed was downstairs ready to drop us off while we were pumped up and ready to enjoy the madness that would be in the few hours everything was ‘forgotten’. I walked upto the first landing and after taking my abaya off I proceeded to walk in, It seemed each step I took I ran into someone who I knew or someone who knew of me and I ended up saying Salam and planting kisses for what seemed like forever. Then I walked into the room, and I saw her – actually I think I looked through her expecting…I don’t know what, but something anything other than what I saw. This was Bushra – no this was a little girl…No this was my little sister… In all the madness of getting to my grandma’s house and being ordered to the wedding, I never asked. Call it gullible, unbelievable, naive – matter of fact call it what you like – I never once asked if I had maybe I wouldn’t have gone maybe I would have thrown a fuss, maybe I would’ve prepared myself or done something. However unlikely or unbeneficial this would’ve been. Thageya the proud mother dragged at me by the arm leading as one of the ‘guests of honour’ sitting next to the ‘blushing bride’. I looked over my shoulder, and my mum sat all dressed traditionally and talking jokingly. As soon as my mother stopped talking I asked her how could this be? ‘This is their tradition my daughter’ she replied, and before I could even react, she was catching up with someone else. This seemed like a dream maybe it was just me that saw 12 year old Bushra, so I looked up and got lost in her hazel eyes. The eyes that never stopped dancing were barely flickering, and I sat silently – neither there nor not. As Bushra got taken into the next room, I and my cousin were only one of four allowed in with her as ‘guests of honour’ – an honour which riled me inside but would be my only chance to be with her. As the doors closed – I asked why? I asked my cousin – why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you refuse? I asked Bushra. No-one answered for what seemed like a lifetime, and then Bushra looked straight at me saying ukhti (Sister) Muna there’s no choice. That was it – in that one sentence the conversation ended, and Bushra would be married to a man in his 30’s who wouldn’t consummate the marriage until she began to menstruate. A thing I and every girl knew would be a thing that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Bushra gave birth to a baby girl in Oct 2009, had several difficulties at the end of 2010 giving birth to another girl. A few months ago I got the news at aged 16 Bushra bled out in childbirth yet again, I was beyond devastated. All I kept thinking was – would this be the day she gives up? Would this be the day I lose the little girl who was aspiring to be something? As I waited for news of how she was, I just kept thinking why should she be contemplating death? Why the hell do we have a country ruled by customs? Bushra by the grace of God survived but her baby died. The day Bushra got married will forever be engraved in me, that day was the first time in my life I felt I saw every girl who was violated, will be violated and is being violated in the name of tradition. Humans are odd creatures moved by emotions, riled by anger and the followers of customs all in the name of belonging. I vowed when I got back to Yemen I would go back and take a picture of Bushra’s eyes, I would show the world pictures of all the girls who speak from the heart with their eyes what the mouth cannot speak and what would ultimately be inevitable fate. As the world hears about the humanitarian crisis, AQAP and every other woe in Yemen we forget the girls and women.

In Yemen as if child marriages and young pregnancies weren’t enough to deal with, the lack of adequate medical care fuels what is already a raging fire. Mechanisms need to be put into place in order to protect women, in many different areas, there are so many issues which have been brushed under the carpet and ought to be discussed now rather than later. I’m aware though that would mean addressing our customs and what is now not even considered a catastrophe but rather something of the ‘norm’. It would mean fighting villages, tribal men and women, not just on issues of child brides but of a woman’s choice to family planning. This would mean never allowing tradition to be the sugar-coating of wrong – could that be ever done in Yemen? I don’t know, but I do wish for some sort of advancement.

My last conversation with Bushra was 5 days ago, and she sounded optimistic and determined – how far will that optimism take her? How long will that fire of hunger rage? I don’t know, but the fact she still has that fire is a true testament to her and many child brides’ strength – physically and even more so mentally. Personally I dedicate International woman’s day to those girls forced to be women, mothers & wives… I detest the traditions and customs which burdened them way before their time – but I salute them for carrying on and dreaming. Although this is an all too familiar story in Yemen, their hope inspires me to carry on thinking that maybe one day things can and will change.

*This is a true story with only names changed.

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To mark the 11th year since the establishment of Guantanamo Bay prison camp, the London Guantanamo campaign held tours around London highlighting the cases of 5 prisoners who are under illegal detention. With the exception of Adnan Latif who died in Guantanamo in September 2012 in what is widely speculated as suspicious circumstances; and Omar Khader who is now being held in a maximum prison in Canada.

The tours started off outside embassies of countries believed to have been complicit in any way in the US-Led rendition, detention and torture programme. The tours ended at the US embassy symbolising and mapping each detainees ‘road’ to Guantanamo.

For the past 11 years Guantanamo has held just under 800 prisoners, the majority have now been released but have suffered years of solitary confinement and according to human rights campaigners years of torture and abuse. The vast majority of the remaining 166 prisoners have been cleared for release but as of yet have no freedom in sight. At least 30 Yemeni nationals have also been cleared for release but due to the Obama administration concluding that Yemen is too dangerous, there is a ban on return to Yemen; their lives in limbo innocent yet still imprisoned.

Around 70 peaceful protesters were present at the vigil outside the US embassy, they lit candles and some were in orange jumpsuits wearing Obama masks and holding quotes of Obama’s pledge to close Guantanamo. As they all stood outside the embassy they read out the names of all the imprisoned; while chanting ‘Shame on you’ and ‘close Guantanamo’. Student Alice who came to show solidarity stated she did so because ‘Regardless of race, religion and nationality they’re human and should be treated so”. While graduate Naima stated “I believe its a citizens duty to fight for injustices faced by others”.

Activists, campaigners and citizens called for Guantanamo to be closed and all illegally detained prisoners to be released. London Guantanamo campaigner and organiser Aisha Maniar in a press release stated “The failure of the United States to recognise international law and due process rights is also the failure of the international community, through its collusion in the torture and “rendition” of these men to Guantánamo Bay, and its failure to assist in closing it down. However, campaigners around the world will not be silenced. We will continue to remind the US government and all other complicit states of their obligations under international law and of the human rights norms they claim to support.”

Campaigners stated that regardless of how long it takes, as long as the US is complicit in crimes and continues to deny human rights, they will continue to raise awareness and they’ll continue to fight on for the rights of detainees illegally held.

The Nakba day known as the “day of the catastrophe” is generally commemorated on May 15 the date for Israel’s independence. Sixty-four years on and the Nakba is remembered worldwide not only to remember the estimated 700,000 Palestinians who were either expelled or fled in 1948; but to also remember the thousands internally displaced.
Today the Nakba is just as important as six decades ago for even though the Nakba is to commemorate the catastrophe, the plight of Palestinians is a never-ending one. The Atrocities committed by the state of Israel continue, with the support of some of the most influential countries [such as US & UK]. For this reason we must not only demand and continue to strive for un-conditional freedom and democracy for Palestinians but we must also demand so from our governments.

As Hugh Lanning Palestine Solidarity Campaign [PSC] deputy general secretary said ‘Administrative detention is a British legacy. Our responsibility is to ensure government stops ignoring Palestinian prisoners’

As the people chanted ‘free Palestine’ and as Palestinians and non-Palestinians all came together in London outside Downing Street; we showed we continue to remember even half way across the world. We remember the refugees of the past and present, we remember the imprisoned; generations on we still care.

‘Israel can build its walls and it can shackle prisoners but even inside their four walls Palestinians continue to demand for freedom.’

Baroness Jenny Tonge ‘…Time is running out we have to act if Palestine is to be saved and two states are to be created…’

Obada Sawallha the nephew of hunger striker Mahmoud Ramahi speaks about Palestinian hunger strikers and the Nakba. To show his solidarity he’s also on hunger strike.
‘As an occupied, oppressed people we do not have tanks and we do not have fighter jets we have something much, much more powerful – we have our resolve and we have our determination’

Brief reminders in the midst of the demonstration as the ‘Jewish Task force’ tried to provke protesters and disrupt the demonstration. [They were arrested swiftly]

PSCUpdate later tweeted ‘Police officer congratulated Palestine protester @ London protest for Nakba following an attempt by 2 counter demonstrators to disrupt rally’.

There’s an estimated 2,000 hunger strikers in Israeli jails who are fighting with the only thing they have left and six decades on as we commemorate the Nakba. I leave you with the words of the great Mahmoud Darwish who described the Nakba as, ‘an extended present that promises to continue in the future’ – Unless we continue to never forget and educate so we may never be idle in our actions, unless we never seize to demand justice and freedom there will come a day when justice triumphs over injustice.

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Over the past couple of weeks there’s been a surge of discussions especially on social media networks regarding women’s rights in the MENA region, their grievances and their role. Although for the past year or so when the Arab Spring first began to gain momentum women were on the front-line and although some barriers were torn down; the MENA region still lags in various aspects in basic rights for women. Something we should neither deny nor play down, the Arab spring seems to have become a platform for women to engage more widely in the world they live in; yet change seems a long way ahead.

Looking at the most recent stories from the controversy surrounding Mona Eltahawy article published in FP ‘why do they hate us’? It seemed her harsh and one-sided delivery seemed to overshadow the aspect of putting forward the lack of women’s rights. Rather than engage others to discuss the issue at hand it became a battle of to agree or dismiss. The refutes to Mona’s article came in fast and I was curious about how women perceived their roles within their society. From the more liberal Egyptian women to the conservative Yemeni women; one thing was for sure these women were not going to willingly be oppressed anymore. Women it seemed had found a venue to output their determination and the Arab spring proved to be a reason.

It would seem progress was in fact being made; for the over the past year women bore the brunt of everything just like their fellow brothers. An Arab woman even won the Nobel peace prize, you wouldn’t be faulted in thinking there was some sort of advancement [however slow] being made. AlHayat newspaper published an *article in Arabic pointing to 90% of women in Yemen facing some form of harassment. Yet again disputes emerged – this time regarding the high percentage. The issue of harassment turned into a numbers dispute with scarcely any discussing ways to eliminate harassment irrespective of percentage.

There are many issues under the banner of women’s rights and-or harassment. From child marriages to education, from marital rape to lack of opportunities. Some may scream out equality is needed but equality is used too liberally and vaguely. It is not equality we need for we are equal in our own right; it is to have the same level of access to everything available that is a basic right. I say this because in some of these countries not even men nor all of the nation’s citizens are equal or have basic rights. Some might even point to the West [countries] as models, but as a woman of the East residing in the West I don’t ever think this would work. Just as the languages, landscape, cultures and even weather is different in each country. Finding a solution and an implementation of it cannot be the same everywhere. To tackle these issues not only do we need to break the stigma associated to issues regarding women; but we also need to find a balanced solution that fits rather than trying to impose an unmanageable one. There’s many challenges ahead and in retrospect all women; whether in MENA or in the west regularly face challenges – each on a different scale yet equally as important.

Far too long there seems to be a view of women equal good and men equal bad – to put it in the simplest term. Although perpetrators of abuse to women should never be excused wouldn’t it be more objective instead of demanding our rights as women to just right out own them? The submissive, weak picture of a woman is often portrayed and while change is screamed out if we owned the stage and became the puppeteer it would be impossible to be deemed the puppet. The recent events of the Arab Spring showed exactly that – when women organized, marched and treated the wounded they never asked for permission; they owned their right to demand social change. They were [and still are] arrested, beaten and even killed, yet hundreds carry on – you get a sense of who dares to deny they do otherwise?! So why ever settle and accept anything less?

As the focus on the MENA region seems to increase while striving for change men mustn’t forget the women who stood by their side to fight for freedom and democracy. While women mustn’t forget that men are part of the solution for social change, but that each woman is in fact the solution. The essence of the question should not be why do they hate us? Or to dispute figures of harassment or to belittle each others struggle. It shouldn’t be to point to other parts of the world and claim they too are oppressed. As these are all minor technicalities compared to the bigger issue at large, the question should be how can we make sure that change is really achieved for all? How can we make sure women are not again sidelined? How can we make our society better? How can we make sure the mothers and teachers of tomorrow; the backbone of society will never be denied their fundamental rights? When we all begin to discuss rather than dispute, when we begin to strive for solutions rather than excuse – only then will there be change.

A Bahraini woman at an anti-government protest.

*[Reportedly due to the high number of complaints mainly by men. Alhayat newspaper has since apologised for the high percentage it had quoted, saying the figure was based on a regional study and was exaggerated]

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What does it mean to have gone full circle? What does it mean to reflect on March 18’s massacre a year on? What does it mean to dismantle the optimism and reflect?

Yemen has been a whirlwind, a roller-coaster, a heartbreaker..Yet it’s my motherland, the country I never cease to call home…For they say home is where the heart is. As I watched ‘Karama has no walls’ I sat and reflected. It took me back to a point of despair. I remember being awake nearly two nights posting everything I possibly could, I remember just thinking God please no more deaths or violence. Maybe it was guilt..No maybe it was the feeling of helplessness..I really couldn’t say If I’m honest but I remember me and my father fishing through information.. I remember my father saying he didn’t or I should say couldn’t want to hear [see] anymore. I think that’s when it hit me – Yemen was going all the way regardless of who stood in their way they were willing to soak their land with their blood; but never would they be silenced anymore. I don’t know how to describe the feeling of pride intertwined with utter sadness thrown into a whirlwind of dreams of a ‘New Yemen’.

A Yemen where you could get a job because of how hard you’d worked not who you knew or how much you were willing to pay. A Yemen where young girls weren’t married off to older men because of money or I should say lack of it. A Yemen where I wouldn’t see an old, disabled man begging in order for a bite to eat. A Yemen where people had a chance to be something. A Yemen where we could live and work and none would flee to KSA [where most are abused and used]. A Yemen where sheikhs no longer terrorized… Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself maybe I’m too much of a dreamer…I don’t know but I always found bigger is better…For arguments sake lets start small: Justice and democracy [Hey I’m a really big dreamer] The people wanted to overthrow a regime; on March 18 we witnessed thugs shooting to kill. Yet the streets echoed with “Silmiya, Silmiya” [Peaceful, Peaceful]..An armed nation had left everything behind willing to sacrifice their lives so that maybe even if they never got to enjoy it; their people would. In Yemen Justice was the goal, In Yemen death was acceptable but giving up dignity wasn’t.

None could’ve anticipated the peoples reaction to the murders, as all jumped on the bandwagon of imminent civil war… I thought to myself if the mountains, fields and streets could’ve spoken they would’ve cried with pride at its youth. I felt like screaming world watch as my people rise and fight against all odds..Over 100 were injured that day and 52 people were martyred, 52 families were shattered that day. Many more would die in the course of the revolution; but [to me] this was our point of no return.

Today a year later how do I express my thoughts on Yemen? I see a regime consisting of the old, with different name tags. I see the five million who will go hungry this year..As for March 18 a year on and it feels like being right at the beginning. We’ve been suppressed for decades, cheated when we were about to flourish and killed just before we reached the finish line. I feel so empty yet the feeling of sorrow engulfs me, For my people that hoped beyond hope, for my people who lost everything – I see no change…I like to think I’m not naive, I know change would’ve taken time to achieve. My point is a year on and I feel like not even the bare foundations for that change have been set up.

As I dismantle my optimism…I’d like you to meet the people of my motherland, this was and is…

For the disabled old man – Abdullah who will carry on begging.
For Ali the grafter who graduated yet will always have his degree on a wall as he carries on grafting.
For Suad [11] & Hend [7] I will always remember you both as those little girls, I’m ashamed your innocence was stolen.
For Hussein who works on the streets of Sana’a selling tissues so he can feed his siblings.
For the widow with 5 children – a hardworking cleaner who works at the dentist in Dhamar earning next to nothing.
For the prisoners of ‘sheikhs’.
For the workers or the derogatory term they are known by – Akhdam- that have makeshift tents and no abode.
For the unhealed south and the so called ‘enemies’…Houthis.
For the families of the Martyrs [who will never receive justice]

These are only a few of the people for which I let sorrow engulf me…The people you’ll probably never know, the people that make up Yemen but are still left on the sideline…